A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

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(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

In last week’s post on Kelly Oubre, I put a lot of emphasis on this decision for the Jazz during June’s draft: between drafting the high upside talent that will need time to develop (Oubre) or picking a player that contribute from the start (Kaminsky). Today, we’re going to continue to look at players that fit into the first category, as we take a look at Utah Utes center Jakob Poeltl.

The story of Jakob Poeltl is very different from the prospects that we’ve talked about, but yet seems very familiar. In a standard U-18 European Championship game against the Netherlands, Poeltl played seemingly played his typical brand of basketball. However, that day was far from ordinary, as Utah Utes assistant coach Andy Hill sat in the stands marveling at Poeltl’s incredible speed and skill for a 7-foot, 235 pound prospect. And during that day, the unknown Poeltl seemingly went from being an unknown to standout prospect in a matter of hours.

The moment you lay your eyes on Jakob Poeltl and watch him play, you can instantly see what made Andy Hill salivate. For a 7-footer, Poeltl continuously displays a level of quickness only matched by the Kentucky duo of Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl Towns. The similarities that Poeltl shares with that duo continues, as the Utah center is able to combine that quickness with an intense style of play.

While that aggressive mindset has led to Poeltl having a bit of a issue with forcing fouls (averages 4.6 fouls per 40 minutes), it also leads to some extremely positive aspects. One of those positives would be how he helped lead Utah into being one of the best defensive units in all of college basketball. According to kenpom, the Utes kept opponents from shooting only 41% from inside the 3-point line, which put them 5th in the nation.

Although the entire Utes team had some role behind that defensive success, Poeltl was perhaps the biggest catalyst. Poeltl averaged 3.3 blocks per 40 minutes, which would put him 5th among draft-eligible players. To accomplish that, Poeltl has tremendous defensive instincts, as he usually seems to be in the correct position to make the defensive stop.

As witnessed in Utah’s season-ending loss against Duke, Poeltl has the tendency of being the worst nightmare for the opponent, who this time happened to be potential #1 pick Jahlil Okafor. During the course of that game, Poeltl repeatedly prevented Okafor from being able to get good post-up position. That feat is pretty amazing as the 235-pound Poeltl has a significant size disadvantage against the massive 270-pound Okafor.

That persistence continues to be evident by how well he works on the glass. Both offensively and defensively, Poeltl seems to be a pretty disciplined rebounder as he’s very diligent with box outs, which allows him to create a large area to capture the ball. That effort is backed up by Poeltl averaging 4.6 offensive boards per 40 minutes, which is only eclipsed by Okafor and Arkansas’ Bobby Portis.

Aside from his work on the offensive glass, Poeltl stands as a raw product from that end of the court. Inside Larry Krystkowiak’s offense, Poeltl is mainly used as a screen and roll partner for Delon Wright or any of Utah’s guards. And in that set, Poeltl stands as a pretty capable player. He does a nice job of moving off-ball after the screen while also showing off an ability to catch the ball and score in one clean motion. During penetration, Poeltl regularly is able to draw contact while still being able to keep the focus necessary to score.

While he might not be in the same galaxy with Okafor as a post-up player, he does have some ability in that particular area. Particularly on the right block, Poeltl does look pretty confident as he takes the time needed to get in position, and launch a pretty smooth right-handed hook. However, opposing teams have learned that if they do double-team Poeltl, he tends to turn the ball over. That turnover issue is evident by Poeltl averaging 2.8 TO’s per 40 minutes.

The area where Poeltl will need to continue to work on over the course of his career is his work on the free-throw line. In more than 6 attempts per 40 minutes, Poeltl shoots 43% from the charity stripe. While that average is definitely bad on the surface, it could prevent him from developing as a post-up weapon, as opponents may try to foul Poeltl before he even gets a chance to get comfortable enough to launch up that right-handed hook.

In a similar mold to Kelly Oubre, the addition of Jakob Poeltl to the Jazz could continue to improve Utah’s already elite defensive front-court. Like Oubre, Poeltl’s aggressive defensive approach could help give the team’s 2nd unit a solid defensive anchor that they haven’t really had since Gobert transitioned into the starting lineup after the Kanter trade. That position in Utah’s 2nd unit could allow Poeltl to evolve and grow as a player without putting a lot of pressure on the young prospect.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

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As the Jazz continue their ascent up the Western Conference, the organization will have to make an important decision as they near the NBA Draft: Do they go for the player that can make an immediate impact, or a high upside prospect that they’ll have to nurture for multiple years? While the team has gone towards the second option over the past few years with the selections of Dante Exum and Rudy Gobert, their recent success could lead to them going away from the mindset.

However, if the Jazz do decide to keep picking “high upside” talent, Kansas forward Kelly Oubre might be the most ideal draft prospect. As a former McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit, Oubre entered the star-studded Kansas organization with high expectations. While he never lost his reputation as a lottery-bound prospect, Oubre struggled to get consistent playing time until the team started conference play. That inconsistent playing time lead Oubre to only average 20 minutes per game.

Whenever Oubre was on the court, he showed off an insane amount of defensive potential. Standing at 6’7 with a tremendous 7’1 wingspan, Oubre can utilize that tremendous length in multiple ways, including as a defensive ball-hawk. By consistently working the passing lanes, Oubre is able to use that length to force the opposition to commit turnovers. That ability is showcased by Oubre averaging 2.3 steals per 40 minutes, which is more than the likes of Arizona’s Stanley Johnson or Duke’s Justise Winslow.

Aside from that, Oubre does display a high amount of defensive awareness for a prospect that’s so young. He does a terrific job of using his long frame to keep pace with players, from point guards or power forwards. While he’s a menace in the passing lanes, Oubre rarely tries to force plays, and does a good job of staying in an ideal position.

Oubre’s tendency to force turnovers in the passing lanes has helped him become a huge transition threat. Once he gets possession of the ball, Oubre does a great job of pushing it down the court. In that process, Oubre tends to break away from the opposition, which allows him to finish with a ferocious dunk.

In the half-court, Oubre does tend to have a bit more trouble. As was showcased in Kansas’ NCAA Tournament defeat against Wichita State, Oubre has periods where he tends to stay hidden from the action. This may be partially due to Bill Self, however, who tends to be more reliant on his stable of sophomores (Wayne Selden and Frank Mason) or juniors (Perry Ellis).

When he does get an offensive opportunity, Oubre displays flashes of an ability to score in a multitude of different ways. Perhaps the most intriguing would be his ability to shoot the perimeter jumper. Whether it would be off-the-dribble or via catch-and-shoot, Oubre has a smooth shooting stroke that’s helped him shoot 36% from beyond the arc on five attempts per 40 minutes.

Perhaps one of the most intriguing parts of Oubre’s offensive game is his ability to work as an on-ball penetrator. While the forward has a pretty solid crossover that he likes to display on a consistent basis, he seems to be pretty loose with the ball, which has lead to him turning the ball over frequently. However, when Oubre is 100% zoned in, he’s snake-like in the way he slithers his way through the defense as he works his way to the rim.

Because of his quickness and athleticism, Oubre has a tremendous amount of potential as an off-ball threat. When he doesn’t worry about maintaining control of the ball, Oubre is an extremely explosive threat as he can tear from the perimeter to the paint within a blink of an eye. Once he does get to the paint, he’s able to use his long frame to get an easily look at the rim.

The addition of Oubre into Utah’s cavalcade of defensive-minded players might force some sleepless nights among other wing units around the leauge, and the 6’7 forward could only help the team’s already elite defensive unit. With his aggressive yet controlled defensive approach, Oubre already has the same mentality that has helped lead to Utah’s defensive turnaround. Oubre’s aggression in the passing lanes would also be able to help a Jazz defense that’s currently 16th in the league in steals, with 7.9 per 100 possessions.

On the offensive end, Oubre probably won’t be able to make a huge immediate impact, but he does have potential to be another weapon for Dante Exum down the road. Utah’s motion-heavy offense could lead to some perimeter looks for Oubre, who could either use that open lane to drive to the rim or shoot the jumper.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

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(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

In the long, tedious hours that I spend going over college tape for this series, or just for personal enjoyment, there are instances where I get a certain mental “spark”. These occurrences usually pop up either if I fall in love with how that certain prospect performs, or if they would make for a perfect fit with a particular NBA team. However, in the case for the Utah Jazz and Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky, both categories would actually fit.

Unlike the majority of potential lottery prospects, Frank Kaminsky never faced any sort of high expectations throughout his basketball career. Among DraftExpress’s projected lottery prospects, Kaminsky and Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant stand as the only two players who weren’t McDonald’s All-Americans. It didn’t take until a 43 point performance against North Dakota during the middle of his junior year before he transitioned from an unknown into one of the most feared college players in the nation.

On the path towards capturing that label, Kaminsky has developed an offensive game that has probably made an opponent lose sleep, as they try to think of ways to stop him. But that goal has turned into an impossible dream for most college teams. As of March 16th, only one team (Georgetown) has prevented Kaminsky from scoring in double-digits. That level of consistency has helped lead him to averaging 18.2 points per game with an outstanding .629 True Shooting Percentage. In terms of potential draft prospects, that number would put Kaminsky just behind Duke’s Jahlil Okafor.

Unlike Okafor, a lot of Kaminsky’s NBA appeal comes from his work as a perimeter shooter. On 2.5 attempts per game, Kaminsky is shooting 40%, which puts him as one of the best 3-point marksmen in the entire country.

Kaminsky is able to be such an effective weapon because he oozes confidence whenever he’s spotted up at the perimeter. For a players at his position who are rarely in that spot, it’s so mesmerizing to watch him and know that he’s going to make that long-range bomb. While his stroke tends to be on the slow side, he’s able to counter that with a high release point and a smooth follow-through. The combination of all of those traits has lead to Kaminsky averaging 1.139 PPP (points per possession) on jump shots, according to Synergy Sports Technology.

Aside from his smooth shooting stroke, Kaminsky also excels as a post-up threat, where he maintains that level of confidence. Averaging 1.048 points per possession in post-ups, Kaminsky has displayed a knack of scoring from both the left and right block.

While in the post-up, Kaminsky displays a bevy of different moves. The 7-footer has an extremely smooth hook shot, where it seems like he pivots in a way where his entire body is directly facing the basket when he launches up a shot. Alongside that, Kaminsky has pretty solid footwork, that includes a smooth spin move that he uses to move his way towards the paint for an easy basket.

One of the issues facing Kaminsky’s NBA future concerns his potential on the defensive end. Although he’s technically sound in most facets of the game, Kaminsky isn’t exactly the quickest or most athletic big man, which has brought up concerns about how he’ll be able to guard some of the NBA’s best. However, that perspective is definitely lost on me, as he stands as a fundamentally sound defender that can contain himself against some of the nation’s best.

Regarding Kaminsky being an absolutely perfect fit with the Jazz, he could immediately become that stretch 4 that the team lost when they dealt Enes Kanter. Inside Snyder’s motion-heavy offensive system, Kaminsky could get a lot of open looks, as the opposing defense would be too focused on Derrick Favors or Gordon Hayward.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

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(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

For the Jazz, who have been stuck in the rebuilding process for the past few seasons, the team’s recent stretch has been a huge sign of the possibilities that could be right around the corner. Over their past 10 games, Utah has won seven. Despite that recent hot stretch, Utah still sits 8.5 games behind OKC for the 8th seed in the Western Conference, which is pretty much an impossible goal at this stage in the season.

As we sit in this weird, but yet exciting, purgatory-like state for the final few weeks of the season, it would only seem right to start taking a look at the prospects that will be involved in June’s NBA Draft. With the Jazz on their recent winning stretch, Utah’s potential draft position has continued to slip, as they currently stand at No. 10. Despite that, there are still an abundance of solid prospects that Utah could look at to help improve their team.

Despite the team’s recent stretch as being the best defensive team in the NBA (allowing a league-low 90.7 points per 100 possessions since the All-Star break), the team doesn’t currently possess a lockdown perimeter defender, that they can pair up with the Favors/Gobert duo. The only player that could possibly be considered as such would be Elijah Millsap, who doesn’t particularly add anything to the offensive end.

Among the prospects in this year’s draft, Duke wing Justise Winslow would seem like one of the better fits for Quin Snyder’s defensive-minded team.

A Texas native who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 229 pounds, Winslow has been able to create a reputation as one of the more tenacious defenders in this year’s draft class. On a near play-by-play basis, Winslow stands as one of the hardest working players on the court. That combined with a 6’10” wingspan and supreme athleticism leaves him at an advantage.

Winslow is able to utilize that trio of traits with his work as a PnR defender. Per Synergy Sports Technologies, opposing PnR ball handlers are averaging .487 PPP (points per possession) against Winslow. The 6’7” forward is able to accomplish that by being able to quickly recognize whether to either work over or under the on-ball screen. After he chooses which way to go, Winslow is able to use his long frame to create a huge distraction for the opposing player.

As his freshman season has gone on, Winslow has evolved into a solid defensive ball-hawk. Since the start of February, Winslow has averaged 2.1 steals per game, which included a six steal performance in a recent Duke blowout over Wake Forest.

Although a lot of Winslow’s impact rests with his work on the defensive end, Winslow has developed into a viable offensive threat. As the season has gone on, and he got more acclimated with the college game, Winslow has become a player that can either cut towards to the paint or square up and hit the perimeter jumper.

While he’s showcased an ability to get to the paint in the half-court, Winslow’s main bread-and-butter would be how he works in transition. Once Winslow creates some open space, Winslow becomes an absolutely unstoppable force. That statement can either be backed up from him averaging 1.3 PPP in transition, or from the following gifs:

Throughout the season, Winslow has been able to showcase himself as one of the most efficient perimeter shooters in college basketball. Among draft-eligible forwards, Winslow currently has the 3rd best 3-point shooting percentage (39%), as he only trails Justin Anderson and Anthony Brown. However, that shooting percentage looks pedestrian compared to how he’s been over the past few weeks. Since the start of February, Winslow has shot 50% (on 22 total attempts) from the perimeter.

As far as his potential fit with the Jazz goes, Winslow definitely seems like he would be able to make an immediate impact because of his work on the defensive end. Winslow’s ferocious nature combined with the way that Utah has been should make for a remarkable fit. Also, Winslow working alongside Gobert and Favors could perhaps make things better for the young forward, as he’ll have to focus on his own assignments, rather than fixing the mistakes of his fellow teammates like he has done with Jahlil Okafor.

While it might be more of a challenge for him to transition as an offensive player, he could still be effective based on how he’s able to work his way towards the rim in both on and off-ball cuts. Also, Utah’s pass-happy nature could allow Winslow get a lot of opportunities to showcase his work as a spot-up shooter.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

]]>http://saltcityhoops.com/utah-jazz-nba-draft-prospects-justise-winslow/feed/1Finding A Niche: How Elijah Millsap Has Hung On With The Utah Jazzhttp://saltcityhoops.com/finding-a-niche-how-elijah-millsap-has-hung-on-with-the-utah-jazz/
http://saltcityhoops.com/finding-a-niche-how-elijah-millsap-has-hung-on-with-the-utah-jazz/#commentsWed, 04 Mar 2015 21:54:32 +0000http://saltcityhoops.com/?p=15017Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

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(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

When the Jazz signed D-League vet Elijah Millsap to a 10-day contract in early January, it was thought that he’d offer fix after both Alec Burks and Rodney Hood suffered separate injuries that took them out of the lineup for an extended period. Around that time, the Jazz seemed to be shuffling different D-Leaguers (Patrick Christopher, Elliot Williams and Chris Johnson), so it only seemed that Millsap would be following in their footsteps.

However, once Millsap made his Jazz debut in a January 5th game against Indiana, it quickly became clear that his impact on the team would be different than the aforementioned players. In that first game, Millsap played 19 minutes for Utah, which is more than half the playing time that Patrick Christopher or Chris Johnson had during their entire Jazz stints.

Although Millsap necessarily didn’t make have a huge impact during his NBA debut (2 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on 1-5 shooting), he did show brief glimpses of what the Jazz found so appealing when they called him up from the D-League.

As his run with the Jazz continued to progress, the skills that made him one of the D-League’s finest wings. During his stint with the Bakersfield that proceeded his call-up, Millsap averaged 2.1 steals per game, which mostly came from him being an absolute menace in the passing lanes.

Millsap’s reputation as an opposing offense’s worst nightmare made a smooth transition to the Utah Jazz and the NBA. When you first lay your eyes on Millsap when he’s defending an opponent, you can quickly see that there isn’t a more tenacious player on the court. No matter who he’s guarding, Millsap works his ass off to stick to his opponent like a magnet, even if he has to work around an on-ball screen. That grit and tenacity quickly leads to the opposing player to get extremely frustrated and off their game.

That statement is evident by opponents shooting 6% worse when he’s on the court (45%) than when he’s sitting on the sidelines (51%). Even the most dominant defensive guards in the game (I.e Khris Middleton, Tony Allen or Avery Bradley) haven’t been even able to come close to making that kind of defensive impact.

As previously mentioned, Elijah Millsap has reputation as a tenacious ball-hawk. That has continued to stick with the Jazz, as he’s currently averaging a team-high 2.2 steals per 36 minutes.

Millsap is able to be that effective by utilizing the vaunted trio of aggressiveness, instinct and a terrific wingspan. Slithering around the perimeter like a snake looking for its prey, Millsap is able to scope out the path of the ball and snatch it up.

With the recent re-tooling of the team after the Enes Kanter deal, Elijah Millsap has been looked at as one of the leaders of the team’s defensive unit. Although this is his first NBA season, Millsap showcases a lot of veteran-like instinct on the defensive unit, which is a huge positive on a team filled with youngsters that are still trying to reach their full potential.

As a 27-year-old rookie, Elijah Millsap has probably reached his full potential as an NBA player. While that may seem depressing when you consider his struggles on the offensive end, his defensive impact more than makes it.

Since the Jazz team have suddenly turned into a defensive powerhouse with Gobert and Favors leading the way, having somebody like Elijah Millsap in the system is absolutely necessary. While he won’t have much of an impact on the offensive end, Millsap should continue to retain a role with the team based on his ability to disrupt the opposing team’s best player or just to be a menace in the passing lanes.

For every D-Leaguer with NBA aspirations, they try to discover the type of niche that they could bring to an NBA team. While it took five years and a handful of stints with different D-League and international teams, it finally appears that the 27-year-old Millsap has finally found the niche that will keep him with the Jazz for years to come.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

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(AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

1. Utah’s Post-Trade Deadline Defense Continues To Be Deadly

Since the Trade Deadline passed, the Utah Jazz have faced four playoff-bound teams (Milwaukee, Portland, San Antonio and Memphis). Against those stretch of opponents, the Jazz have been victorious in every single one of those matchups, while keeping the opposition to under 85 points.

In Tuesday night’s game against the Grizzlies, Utah’s defense were able to maintain that awe-inspiring stretch. Although Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors remained as the anchors of the team’s devastating defense, back-court players like Dante Exum and Gordon Hayward were able to provide their own support. Among that trio, Exum perhaps had the most impressive defensive performance, as he prevented Mike Conley from having much of an impact, kept to only 11 points on 4-11 shooting.

For Hayward, he was a thorn in the side of the Grizzlies’ offense for the entire game, as he helped force three of the team’s eleven turnovers.

2. Rudy Gobert Makes History

At this point in the season, the impact that Rudy Gobert brings on a night-by-night basis should no longer be a mystery. However, that shouldn’t take away from just how entertaining it is to watch him perform, and seem to improve during single game.

While he didn’t record a single block shot against Memphis, Gobert was still able to be the most entertaining player for either Utah or Memphis. Throughout the night, Gobert was a dominant force on both the offensive and defensive glass. Although that shouldn’t come as a surprise (Gobert is averaging 12 rebounds per 36 minutes), tonight’s game was a different type of amazing as he collected a career-high 24 rebounds.

To put that in historical perspective, Gobert’s 24 rebounds are the most boards that have ever been collected against the Grizzlies franchise.

3. 2nd Half Domination

Despite the dominant performance of both Rudy Gobert and the entire Jazz defense, Memphis entered the 2nd half with a 38-37 lead over Utah. That score quickly went into the Jazz’s favor thanks in part to Gordon Hayward. In that 3rd quarter, Hayward took over the Jazz offense, as he had 13 points on 6-8 shooting. While we’ve seen those kind of performances before, Hayward entered the night shooting 35% from the field since the All-Star break, which one of the more troubling aspects of an otherwise two-week span.

In the 2nd half, where he scored 15 points on 7-10 shooting, Hayward exhibited an aggressive nature as he kept on attacking the Grizzlies front-line. Of Hayward’s seven made field goals, three of those were from within the restricted area. That’s definitely a great sign for Hayward, as being an effective cutter could eventually lead to him returning to his status as an all-around scoring threat.

Alongside Hayward, struggling rookie Dante Exum was able to show off his distributing skills, as he had four assists during the 2nd half. While Exum will need to carry this over to the next upcoming games to see if he’s truly improving as a distributor, it’s a solid first step away from one of the biggest weaknesses that has held back the young Aussie.

Lost in Gobert’s rebounding dominance was how he was a pretty consistent force on the offensive end, where he had 13 points on 5-6 shooting. In that 2nd half, Gobert displayed his growing offensive skills through on and off-ball cuts and a pretty snazzy post-up move on one of the best defenders in the NBA.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

Editor’s note: As the Utah Jazz continue their search for the next Danny Green, General Manager Dennis Lindsey and company plan to give looks to a wide variety of D-League players on 10-day contracts. From Dakota Schmidt, here are 4 contestants for such a contract at the forward position currently in the D-League that the Jazz could call up. Dakota’s look at D-League guards was posted earlier this week.

Roscoe Smith

Throughout Smith’s separate college stints with UConn and UNLV, the 6’8” forward was mainly known as a defensive stopper with a limited offensive game. During his final college season, Smith had a miniscule 48% two-point percentage while only scoring 11.5 points per-40 minutes. Alongside his offensive struggles, Smith also fell into the unfortunate “tweener” label, which meant that he was looked at as too small to play PF, while not being the ideal small forward because of his offensive struggles.

Since making the transition to the NBADL and LA D-Fenders, Smith has suddenly become more comfortable as a scoring threat. After spending an entire college career struggling to maintain any amount of offensive consistency, Smith has flourished with LA, as he currently possesses a rather dependable 61% True Shooting Percentage.

The main weapon of Smith’s improved offensive arsenal would be his ability to work his way to the rim. While he isn’t the quickest player in the game, Smith has a unique ability to still be able to work around his opponent and glide his way to the paint. During that journey, Smith can make split-second moves to slide away from the opposition. Those skills have definitely made a positive impact as Smith shoots an impressive 72% from inside the restricted area.

While his penetration skills have allowed Smith to be such an effective inside scorer, another facet where he excels is as an offensive rebounder. In spite of his 6’8 frame, Smith averages more than four offensive boards per game, which puts him in the top-10 in the entire D-League.

Away from the paint, Smith is more of a question mark. Although he does possess a swift shooting stroke, Smith has yet to be a consistent force from that end of the court. From mid-range (8-24 feet away from the rim), Smith shoots upwards of 37%. While that isn’t exactly an impressive number, it does showcase that he’s definitely made strides since his time in college.

Ronald Roberts

While Roscoe Smith’s athleticism helps him do the necessary “dirty work”, Delaware 87ers’ forward Ronald Roberts’ athleticism is a lot more evident and exciting. From just doing a quick YouTube search, you can clearly see the natural athleticism and leaping ability, that helped allow Roberts become one of the finest forwards in the entire D-League.

Aside from hitting rim-rocking slams, Roberts can utilize his athleticism in more traditional ways, like as an offensive rebounder. Similar to Smith, Roberts is able to be a fantastic offensive rebounder despite being looked at as an undersized forward. At 6’8, Roberts has captured 4.2 offensive boards per game.
Although this element of his game is still a little raw, Roberts has shown off a knack as a post-up scorer.

While it’s only been showcased in small doses (shooting 58% on 13 attempts), Roberts does look comfortable when he’s posting up on the opposition. Whether it would be with a little baby hook or utilizing a spin move to break away from his defender, it should be expected for this to become a more crucial element to his game whenever Roberts makes his way to the NBA.

Willie Reed

Since his D-League debut during the 2012-13 season, Willie Reed has been looked at as one of the premier defensive forces in the entire league. While he has yet to stake that same claim on the NBA level, his skills as a defensive stopper shouldn’t be able to go unnoticed.

Although Reed’s base defensive numbers aren’t exactly astronomical (2.3 blocks and .8 steals per game), the impact that he’s made to his team (Grand Rapids Drive) shouldn’t be understated. Alongside his lanky 6’10 frame, Reed has legit athleticism and impressive footwork, which he utilizes to stay in front of any penetrating opponents. In large part because of Reed’s abilities, Grand Rapids currently sits as the fifth best defensive team in the NBADL.

On the offensive end, Reed is able to be effective by simply excelling in the art of “controlled aggression”. Reed knows how to use his athleticism to either capture offensive rebounds (4.7 offensive boards per game) or glide his way to the rim as a penetrator. While it isn’t a focal part of his offensive game, Reed has become more comfortable as a post-up player, which is apparent from the following clip.

Earl Barron

While the other nine D-League prospects that have been profiled can be considered young, up-and-coming players, there’s a slew of veterans that are working towards one last opportunity in the NBA. One of those veteran players would be Earl Barron, who has thrived in the D-League as a multi-faceted NBA weapon.

Although Barron’s veteran experience would make it expected for him to be more well-rounded than your standard D-League prospect, not even the most optimistic players could predict that he’d be like this. During his current stint with the Bakersfield Jam, Barron has spread himself out as a mid-range (42%) and even as a perimeter scoring threat (33%).

Despite that, Barron can still utilize his large, 7’1” frame to be an imposing figure on the offensive glass, where he averages four offensive boards per game. While inside the paint, Barron exhibits a tremendous amount of confidence with the way he works inside the paint as a stable post-up player.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

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Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

Editor’s note: Oops. We accidentally had two different writers compose a Triple Team recap for tonight’s game… mea culpa. As a result, you get 6 whole points in what we’ll avoid calling the Sextuple Team. The first 3 are by Dakota Schmidt, the final 3 by Denim Millward.

1. Timofey Mozgov eats the Utah Jazz for breakfast.

In Utah’s early-November match-up against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which lead to a Gordon Hayward buzzer-beating jumper, the front-court duo of Enes Kanter (18 points on 8-13 shooting) and Derrick Favors (21 points on 9-13 shooting) both had their way with the Cavs’ depleted roster.

More than two months later, that fate took a 180-turn, due in large part to Cleveland’s recent addition of defensive specialist Timofey Mozgov. From the opening tip, Mozgov and the rest of Cleveland’s defense kept Utah from having any amount of success from inside the paint. Whenever the Jazz tried to cut their way into the key, the Cavs defense flocked to them like hungry hyenas.

Those initial difficulties from inside the paint prevented from the likes of Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke from having any kind of impact on the offensive end. That duo ended up shooting 5-21 from the field, which included Burke only capturing two points on 1-10 shooting.

While Mozgov’s defensive impact was extremely noticeable, he also dominated on the offensive end. No matter if it was against Kanter, Favors or even Rudy Gobert, Mozgov was a tremendous offensive force who was involved in all facets of the offense. As both a mid-range and an inside threat, Mozgov was phenomenal, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds (7 offensive).

2. Jazz turnovers = Cavaliers success.

Although that above statement would appear to be obvious, Utah’s turnover problem further escalated during tonight’s game. At first glance, their 17 turnovers wouldn’t appear to be too threatening, especially when considering that they currently average around 15 per game. But it isn’t every day Utah plays against a team like Cleveland, who seemed to turn every Jazz offensive mishap into an advantageous situation on the other end. Off of Utah’s 17 turnovers, Cleveland was able to create 22 fast-break points, a 16-point discrepancy that played a large role in what eventually ended up as a 14-point Cavs victory.

3. Elliot Williams solidifies his spot with the Jazz?

With only five days remaining until the end of his final 10-day contract, Elliot Williams only has a limited number of chances to showcase himself before Utah decides whether or not to keep him for the rest of the season. And in Wednesday’s game, Williams took that opportunity and ran with it in a big way.

In only 13 minutes, Williams erupted with a 10 point, 3 assist performance. The veteran guard can score from all over the court, but he was most lethal tonight from beyond the arc, nailing all three of his attempts from distance.

In a wing rotation that’s depleted with injuries to Rodney Hood and Alec Burks, Williams is making a case for remaining on the roster if he keeps on putting up performances like he did against Cleveland tonight. Burks is out for the year and Hood won’t return until after the All-Star break, and Utah’s depth is stretched to the point where any notable performance is a positive sign.

4. Jazz run hot and cold.

The Jazz began the game roughly keeping pace with the suddenly surging Cavaliers, holding a 17-16 lead midway through the first quarter. Shortly after that, it seemed as if the Jazz had switched out the basketball for a medicine ball pumped full of concrete. Utah shot just 7/21 in the first quarter and ended up trailing 31-20 at the end of the first. Despite not fairing much better shooting-wise in the second quarter, the Cavs only extended their lead by 2, and headed into the locker room with a 53-40 advantage. Despite not playing a game since Sunday, the Jazz looked fairly disinterested and lethargic, yielding several point-blank shots and alley oops and showing less resistance than Oliver Miller at a buffet.

The third quarter was when the bottom fell out for the sputtering Jazz, as Cleveland went on a 23-8 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 76-48. After Quin Snyder called a time out to try to minimize the damage, it was as if a switch was flipped. The energy and effort picked up, and the ball finally found nylon at a reasonable rate. The Jazz cut the lead to 20 by the end of the 3rd, trailing Cleveland 62-82.

The next run for the Jazz, a 19-9 run that improbably brought the Jazz back within striking distance at 93-81, was spearheaded by D-league call-ups Elliot Williams and Elijah Millsap. Paul’s little brother chipped in 12 points on 4-9 shooting, and Williams was perfect from deep, going 3-3 from three-point land and scoring 10 points in a scant 13 minutes of playing time. Utah ultimately fell 106-92.

5. A bounce-back game for Kanter.

After mustering just 4 points and 2 rebounds in Utah’s defeat at the hands of San Antonio last Sunday, Kanter was the best offensive player for the Jazz against Cleveland, pouring in 24 points and yanking down 17 boards, 7 of them offensive. After starting just 4-12 shooting, Kanter found his inner Stella and got at least a portion of his groove back, finishing just a hair under 50% from the floor and looking noticeably more confident.

It certainly can’t be easy for Kanter to be fighting his way out of a slump while simultaneously hearing the multitude of adulation and praises being heaped upon his understudy, Rudy Gobert. The Stifle Tower unquestionably generated more buzz and excitement league-wide than any other Jazz player, and the murmurings of Gobert supplanting Kanter in the starting line up are steadily growing louder.

Whether the move eventually happens or not, Kanter showing that he’s still capable of being a significant contributor offensively and in rebounding, especially against two bigs in Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov who are no slouches on the glass themselves, is good news for everyone.

6. Williams, Millsap in for the long haul?

It would be hard for anyone to come up with a compelling argument that says Williams and Millsap haven’t not only outperformed expectations, but significantly so. With Exum continuing to face struggles expected of any rookie with his dearth of high-level basketball experience and Trey Burke having an abysmal game (2 points on 1-10 shooting), Williams came in and played some point guard for the Jazz and did an admirable job, never looking completely lost or overwhelmed by the moment and looking every bit the NBA player Utah hoped he would be. With the two incumbent point guards struggling, Rodney Hood still battling injuries and Alec Burks shelved for the year, Williams has an excellent shot at being kept for the duration of the 2014-15 season.

Millsap’s case may be even stronger. Millsap plays with an energy level reminiscent of his elder brother and possesses a so-called “three and D” skill set that is frankly otherwise in short supply on the Jazz roster. Elijah was charged with guarding LeBron James for part of the game, and was never completely embarrassed, which is a tremendous accomplishment that most other recent D-League call-ups could probably not lay claim to, were the same lofty expectations placed upon them.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

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Could the Jazz call up the former Duke star Seth Curry? (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Editor’s note: As the Utah Jazz continue their search for the next Danny Green, General Manager Dennis Lindsey and company plan to give looks to a wide variety of D-League players on 10-day contracts. From Dakota Schmidt, here are 6 contestants for such a contract at the guard position currently in the D-League that the Jazz could call up.

Seth Curry

As the youngest member of the Curry family lineage, Seth Curry has had higher than usual expectations since his time in college. During his three-year career at Duke, he was never able to truly reach those lofty goals as he failed to create his own identity. As an undersized 6’2 guard, Curry was only looked at as a scoring threat, while his distributing abilities were non-existent. Even though NBA teams knew that they could rely on him for his scoring acumen, he still needed himself as a more well-rounded offensive performer.

With Seth Curry now in the midst of his second D-League season, the 6’2 guard has somewhat been able to evolve as an offensive player. During his current stint with the Erie Bayhawks, Curry is averaging four assists per game. While that average would appear to minuscule, Curry’s sharing the back court with Peyton Siva, who currently has a 36.2% AST ratio.

His limited role as a distributor notwithstanding, Curry has actually been able to progress as a scorer, which is an insane accomplishment in itself. At the time of this piece, Seth Curry is shooting 50% from the field. While that may seem like an exceptional shooting percentage for a player that’s utilized to the level of Curry (25.4% usage rating), that particular statistic shines brighter when you take a look at his work as a perimeter shooter. On nearly eight attempts per game, Curry has shot 52% from beyond the arc, which is more than 10% better than what brother Stephen Curry has done with Golden State.

While the vast majority of Curry’s perimeter offense comes from catch-and-shoot scenarios, he’s more than capable of being able to work around PnR screens, or occasionally make his own offense in ISO’s.
As far as Curry’s fit with the Jazz, he’d best suited as the kind of player that would be able to bring instant offense to the second unit. For a bench core that’s currently 29th in the league in points per game (24.2), having a player with the scoring prowess of Curry could instantly help that depleted core.

Bryce Cotton

While on the topic of D-League talent that could help bring instant offense to Utah’s bench, there isn’t a more red hot option than Austin Spurs guard Bryce Cotton. Since the calendar turned to 2015, Cotton has been on an unbelievable stretch, averaging 26 points, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Similar to Curry, the majority of Cotton’s offense comes from his work from the perimeter. During that short 8-game stretch, Cotton has shot 50% from beyond the arc on eight attempts per game.

Although a lot of Cotton’s offense comes from the perimeter, he’s definitely proven himself as one of the more lethal cutters in the entire D-League. Starting out with a deadly first step, Cotton is able to get an immediate advantage over the opposition as he works his way towards the paint.

Even though there might be well-rounded guards than Cotton in the league, it might be time for the Jazz to strike while the iron (or player) is on fire.

Andre Dawkins

Fresh off a stint with the Heat where he only played a grand total of 21 minutes, Dawkins has transitioned to the NBADL, where he hoped to get more of an opportunity to showcase his abilities. Those aspirations have come true as Dawkins has made an immediate impact since transitioning to the D-League. In the short three game span since being waived by the Heat (played 8 NBADL games while still being under contract by Miami), Dawkins has averaged 21.3 points and 5 assists per game, which includes shooting 48% from beyond the arc. When you pull back and examine his full D-League record, you can quickly see that Dawkins has been a consistent offensive threat.

Dawkins’ status as a perimeter maestro is evidenced by him eclipsing the 50% mark on nearly 10 attempts per game. Aside from that, Dawkins has exhibited some ability to break away from his comfort zone and cut to the paint. For somebody that has never really shown anything besides a perimeter jumper, Dawkins looks extremely comfortable with scoring while in the midst of heavy pressure, although his work from the perimeter will continue to be the focal point of his all-around game.

Jared Cunningham

Similar to Dawkins, Cunningham is making his way to the D-League after having a stint in the NBA where he barely had an opportunity to see the court. While Cunningham did play a more significant amount of minutes than Dawkins (86 total minutes compared to 21), he’s never had a real opportunity to showcase his skills since being a first round pick in the 2012 draft.

Unlike the previous players who have thrived from the perimeter, Cunningham is most comfortable as a penetrator rather than a straight-up shooter. On a seemingly possession-by-possession basis, Cunningham is able to work his way to the rim, whether he’s working off-ball or actually in control of the ball. Once he’s inside the paint, he’s able to utilize his tremendous athleticism. While it’s still an incredibly small sample size, Cunningham is shooting 69% from inside the restricted area.

While Cunningham is positioned as a shooting guard, he’s shown some knack as a facilitator. During the prior season in the D-League, Cunningham averaged around 5 assists per game. Similar to the aforementioned description as a cutter, Cunningham is able to utilize his athleticism to become a pretty solid distributor. Cunningham can cut through the teeth of the defense and then kick it out to a waiting perimeter shooter, or a teammate that’s waiting in the paint.

Jabari Brown

While each one of the players profiled all have their own specific strengths, there hasn’t been an offensive performance that’s as well-rounded as Jabari Brown. The center-point of Brown’s well-rounded offensive arsenal would be his ability as a penetrator. Brown currently stands as one of the quickest players in the entire league. By combining that quickness with a solid first-step, it’s a constant challenge for defenders to be able to stop Brown from getting to the rim. That difficulty is evident by Brown averaging nine free throw attempts over the past 10 games.

Brown has been able to contain that stability as he moves away from the inside of the paint.. That stability is evident by Brown shooting a respectable 40% from the three-point, which includes a seven game stretch where he shot 34% from that same area.

Brady Heslip

Within the middle of Reno’s crazy Grinnell-style system, sits their current golden boy Brady Heslip. Inside an offense that relies solely on high-energy, perimeter play, Heslip has remained as a key focal point for the entire D-League season. On nearly 13 three-point attempts per game, Heslip possesses a 43% shooting percentage.

Whether he’s working around off-ball screens or in a simple catch-and-shoot, Heslip can effectively launch a perimeter jumper with his quick shot release.

Aside from his long-range expertise, Heslip has slowly developed into a relatively solid cutter, by utilizing a pretty quick first step. As someone whose been only looked at as a perimeter threat for his entire career, Heslip looks extremely comfortable with working around the paint. While he’s not comfortable with finishing in traffic, Heslip does possess a pretty solid running floater, which allows him to get a shot up without getting into the teeth of the opposition.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.

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(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

The sight of marveling at a huge unknown prospect and dreaming about the height of his unfounded potential is an experience that all basketball lovers, no matter if you’re an NBA scout or just an average is something that we just live for. While there always remains that risk where the particular prospect falls on their face and fades into complete obscurity, we all just dream of him reaching his full potential and becoming that shining star that will help lead our favorite team to the promised land.

However in the case for most prospects that don’t exactly reach the aforementioned highs, the particular players try to find ways to utilize their best traits to become the most effective. In the case for our current topic, Rudy Gobert, those traits are clearly evident.

Standing at 7’2” with an outstanding 7’9 wingspan, Gobert has lived his entire basketball-playing life as always being the largest player on the court. While that has lead to him constantly getting an immediate advantage over the opposition, that doesn’t exactly mean that Gobert hasn’t had his own struggles when it comes to becoming a more refined player.

While there has always been praise about how well Gobert is able to utilize his frame on both ends of the court, there was also concern about how a team would be able to make use of somebody that isn’t totally refined. Especially on the offensive end, where Gobert hasn’t been able to develop any kind of offensive arsenal away from the rim, it’s an extremely difficult task for any coach to be able to implement him into their offensive system.

With the hiring of Quin Snyder during the 2014 off-season, it appeared that those concerns were able to evaporate, as Snyder’s offensive system is based around around how the individual players are able to work without the ball. While Gobert is extremely raw from most aspects of the offensive game, he’s extremely mobile for a player of his height, which allows him to be a good off-ball cutter, so long as he’s able to catch the ball.

Even though that skill might seem to be rather elementary for most NBA players, Gobert tended to struggle with being able to corral a pass while on the move, which is evident by him averaging 2.7 turnovers per 36 minutes during his rookie season.

That flaw has appeared to evaporate as those per 36 minutes numbers has diminished to only 1.8, which is impressive when you consider his increased role within the Jazz offense. As those decreased amount of turnovers has helped showcase, Gobert has become more comfortable as an offensive player, which is mainly due to the introduction of Snyder’s offensive system.

Inside that system, Gobert’s been able to overcome his clear offensive flaws to become a solid part of the team’s offense. In large part to his partnership with rookie guard Dante Exum, which has lead to a bevy of exciting plays, Gobert has become an extremely effective inside threat. As of the time of this writing, Gobert is averaging 71% from inside the restricted area, which is better than top front-court scorers DeMarcus Cousins (64%), Chris Bosh (53%) and Dwight Howard (65%). While that All-Star trio are further refined and bring a lot more defensive attention than Gobert, it’s great to see the level of progression that he continues to make.

While on the topic of Gobert’s continued progression on the offensive end, he has made a few strides as a rebounder, at least from a statistical perspective. Per 36 minutes, Gobert is averaging an astounding 4.5 offensive boards per game. Even though that’s only a small climb from his 4.2 per 36 average from 2013-14, it’s great to see that those numbers continue to progress as he becomes a more vital part of the Jazz.

Transitioning over to the defensive end, where Gobert’s fantastic frame becomes even more of a weapon, which is evident by him averaging 3.5 blocks per 36 minutes. While those average are impressive, also factor in that Gobert is in possession of a league-high 7.6 BLK%.

Gobert’s penchant towards the block is not the only factor behind his defensive excellence. Whenever Gobert graces the court, the opponent’s offensive attack becomes a lot less effective, which is clearly visible when you look at the following table.

Category

On

Off

Points Allowed Per-100

99.1

107.1

Opponent Field Goal%

43.7

50.4

REB%

51.9

50.5

Opponent Offensive Rating

105.6

117.6

Net RTG

-3

-6.5

As Rudy Gobert becomes a prominent part of the rebuilding Utah Jazz, his future continues to become brighter on a game-by-game basis. His continued progression is showcased by him averaging 7.2 points, 8.4 boards and 2.4 blocks in 25.4 minutes over the past 5 games. While his increased role due to injuries to Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert help provide those increased numbers, they do showcase that he’s able to produce even if he’s asked to take on more minutes.

Author information

Dakota Schmidt

A Wisconsinite who spends way too much time watching mediocre basketball. Started to love the game as I watched the "Big 3" era of the Bucks in the early 2000's but was eventually raised on the teams lead by the likes of Michael Redd, Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Those mediocre teams helped me grow an appreciation for the less than spectacular style of basketball which has lead me to different gigs with Queen City Hoops (Bobcats), Ridiculous Upside (D-League) and now Salt City Hoops.